International Mother Language Day
February 21
International Mother Language Day, observed annually on February 21, is a United Nations initiative that celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity while promoting the preservation and protection of all languages. The day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 and officially recognized by the UN in 2002. It commemorates the 1952 Bengali Language Movement in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan), where students lost their lives advocating for the recognition of Bengali as a national language.
The day emphasizes the importance of multilingual education, the protection of endangered languages, and the role of native languages in fostering cultural identity and global understanding. Events and initiatives worldwide highlight the need to value linguistic diversity as a cornerstone of peaceful and inclusive societies.